Chapter 18
LONDON
M aking the final decisions on the ten interviewees we wanted to offer jobs to took way longer than it should’ve. Liam and I were rarely on the same page and this was no different.
He sat on the other side of my desk the next morning and shook his head, chin lifted up high and defiance hardening his eyes. “There’s no way, Walker. We’re not hiring a woman who’s so obsessed with tigers that she mentioned them in a job interview.”
“She only said it because I commented on the shirt she had on,” I argued. “Besides, not many people can rock that print the way she did.”
“We can’t hire her because she rocks animal print clothing. Are you insane?”
“No. I’m being reasonable and not discarding her purely because she happens to like a specific animal.
” I pushed her folder across the desk to him.
“Look at her references. They’re fantastic.
She has all the skills we’re looking for and, not for nothing, but that bubbly personality that made her volunteer that information about herself is also exactly what will make her an excellent receptionist.”
He groaned. “Fine. Let’s bring her in for a trial run. One month.”
“She’s going to blow you away.” I smiled confidently, letting out a long exhale when I realized we were finally done. “Alright. Let’s make the calls. We need these butts in their seats as soon as possible.”
“Agreed.” He looked at the bulky, orange diving watch on his wrist before he brought those ridiculously pretty eyes to mine. “We’ve only got an hour before our big meeting. I still can’t believe we got a new client meeting before we even have a team.”
I felt a smirk ghosting across my lips. “What can I say? I’m magic and my reputation precedes me. Everyone wants to work with the great London Walker.”
“I thought you said they mentioned my name when they called too.” He cocked his head. “Doesn’t that mean they want to work with the great Liam Jones?”
“Nope. You’re just the sidekick.” I winked and turned to my computer, clicking into my profile to keep perusing their website. “I’ll make my share of the calls in a minute. I just want to get my head wrapped around everything these people offer so I can think about it while I’m on the phone.”
“Good idea.” He leaned forward. “Turn the screen a little, would you? I haven’t had time to look them up either.”
I did what he’d asked, seeing the moment when he realized the same thing I had when I’d first opened their site. It needed a lot of work.
“I thought you said they were a luxury brand.” He arched a dark eyebrow at me. “Don’t they offer cruises to high-end businesses and high-profile people around the city? That’s what you said, I’m sure of it, but I think you might’ve oversold them a little.”
“I did not,” I said emphatically. “This meeting could be huge for us if we land them, but I suspect that website is part of the reason they want to hire us to market their brand. Nothing on there says luxury or high end , does it?”
“It’s screaming scam to me.”
Honestly, their homepage looked like a landing page from back when dial-up connections were a thing, the background black with way too much orange and a blocky font.
There were a couple of pictures of yachts, but they looked like stock photos and some of the writing disappeared into the photographs.
Liam drew in a breath, but excitement was already starting to build deep within him. I could see it in his eyes. “This could actually be really fun.”
“You know it!” I pumped my eyebrows once before I reached for my phone. “Let’s make the calls before we get going. We can brainstorm a little on the way, but from what I’ve seen so far, their brand needs a total overhaul.”
“Absolutely and completely.” He got on his phone too, and once we’d made the job offer calls, it was time to head out.
On our way to the meeting, we reviewed the notes I’d taken when the client had called last night.
After I’d told him everything they’d said, ideas started flowing between us.
This was why I loved working with Liam. As soon as we got started, there was no stopping us.
We bounced things off each other and tweaked and perfected until we had a rock-solid pitch for a client.
And it all could happen in as little time as it took to get to a meeting.
We stopped at an intersection near the marina where the client’s offices were located and he grinned at me. “We make a bomb-ass team. Have you thought about that lately? About what we’re doing? We’re fully out here, developing a whole new branch by ourselves and we’re not screwing it up so far.”
“And there you were, nervous and sad about leaving Texas,” I teased, but the truth was that I’d felt the same.
He chuckled. “I won’t deny that I felt that, but we’re killing it here.”
“I know. I’m so pumped for this. We need to score this client, Liam. It’ll be a massive win if we do. And cruises? How awesome would it be to market those?”
“As long as we get to go on them every once in a while,” he joked. “Test the quality of the product we’re selling.”
I laughed. “I’m so game for that.”
When we arrived at the company headquarters, I immediately knew why they were looking for new people to do their marketing for them. Their website absolutely did not reflect who they were as a company and their social media was practically nonexistent, yet their offices were gorgeous.
In a white-painted building with beautiful windows and super luxurious finishing and furniture, their space was a lot more what I would’ve expected from a client who offered these kinds of services than their public image or online presence had suggested.
Mr. and Mrs. Carrington, the couple who owned the company, had contacted me and they were waiting for us in their spacious lobby.
Dressed in white with beige and powder blue accents, they were both tall, carried themselves with that air of affluence, and better yet, they both smiled when we walked in.
“If it isn’t the dynamic duo,” Mrs. Carrington said as she extended her hand toward me and squeezed it gently. “London Walker and Liam Jones. It’s an honor to meet you. Annabelle Carrington.”
“Benjamin,” her husband said as he shook with Liam. He folded his free hand over their joined fingers, patted it, and then released him to wave us into a well-appointed lounge. “Please come in. We were delighted that you were able to meet with us so soon.”
“It’s lovely to meet you both,” I said as we followed them to the elegant seating area. “We’re delighted to be here.”
Liam’s palm moved to the small of my back as we walked.
While it was something he often did when we arrived at meetings, as if it was his way of ensuring we presented a united front as well keeping us both grounded, this was the first time that it sent a zap of electricity through me.
It brought up memories of his palm being right there when he?—
“Would you like something to drink?” Mrs. Carrington offered, snapping my mind out of the gutter. “Our kitchen makes a wonderful pink lemonade and we’ve a barista on staff who’s a wizard at those lattes you young people love so much.”
I chuckled. “That sounds amazing. I’d love a latte.”
“I’ll try the lemonade,” Liam said as he guided me to a couch and took a seat beside me. “I’m definitely still acclimatizing to the weather here. It’s pretty hot at midday.”
Benjamin shot him an indulging smile. “Why do you think we prefer to be out on the water? Aren’t you from Texas, though?”
Liam blinked back his surprise. “Yep. How did you know?”
“Oh, we’ve been fans of your work for years,” Annabelle supplied. “We’ve been following the company for a long time and we love what Walker and Co bring to the table.”
“That’s incredible,” I said. “I didn’t realize we had fans out there.”
“Huge fans.” She ordered our drinks from a woman who popped into the room.
Then she came to sit kitty corner to me and winked.
“Personally, just between us, I think you’ve got the best style out of you Walker girls.
I’ve enjoyed Olivia’s campaign for the ranch, but you and Liam do seem to have the magic touch.
I loved what you did for those people who manufacture the jets. ”
“Swanson Aviation?” Liam guessed out loud, referencing one of the many accounts we’d worked on together. “I’m surprised you know about that.”
Benjamin laughed. “Honestly, so are we, but like Annabelle said, we’ve been watching your company for a long time.
I went to your annual conference a couple years ago as well and I’ve been following you on the internet ever since.
When we found out that you were finally opening a branch out here, we couldn’t wait to meet with you. ”
“Well, we’re honored,” I said, a little blown away by their praise and excitement. Our meeting was off to a good start and mercifully it went fantastic from there.
We connected so well that the older couple signed on for our services before we even left their offices. On our way out, they walked us back to the lobby and Benjamin smiled at us. “We’ve got a big gala on one of our yachts tomorrow night. It would mean the world if you could join us?”
“Every year, we host hundreds of our clients for the event,” Annabelle said excitedly. “All proceeds are donated to our local Save the Turtles mission. I can’t believe we didn’t think of inviting you before. You should absolutely come.”
“We’d love to,” Liam said, accepting on behalf of both of us.
I didn’t mind, though. “Count us in. Just send us the details and we’ll be there.”
Benjamin pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll have your formal invitation delivered to your offices this afternoon.”
Liam grinned and offered the man his hand.
I did the same with his wife. Then we swapped and shook with the other.
When our goodbyes were said, we turned to leave together.
As we walked back out into the sunshine and looked out at the massive, fancy yachts docked in the marina, a sense of achievement swept through me.
“We did it.” I grinned up at him as I slid my sunglasses over my eyes. “We signed our first client and we’re going to a fancy, high-society party.”
“Where we’ll meet more potential clients to sign.” He lifted his hand for a high-five, but I frowned and shook my head at him.
“I need to go shopping immediately.” I watched his hand drop back to his side like a dead fish. “I have nothing to wear to a night at sea for a gala on a yacht.”
“Stop leaving me hanging and I might drop you off on our way home.”
I sighed but smacked his palm when he offered it again. Once we were in the truck, I batted my lashes at him. He groaned, knowing what I wanted without me even having to say it out loud. “Let me guess. You want me to come with you?”
I laughed. “Well, we only have one car for now, so unless you want to stay home alone for the rest of the day, you’ll have to come with me.”
A slow smirk spread on his lips, but he sighed and started the engine. “Alright, alright. I don’t want to sit at the office or at the house alone, so where to, princess? Just point me in the right direction and I’ll play your fairy godfather for the day.”